Welcome to the chamber blog!

​We hope some of you were able to attend the City of Saint Paul’s two meetings last week on potentially banning all to-go food packaging that can’t be recycled, composted, or reused. This Star Tribune article provides an overview of the first meeting, including quotes from SPACC member Highland Grill.

If you missed the listening sessions don’t despair! As the Chamber works with the City on this issue, we invite your thoughts, praise, or concerns about it so we can best represent you. Contact Marie to discuss.

We have all heard that first impressions are lasting impressions. If you've ever been involved in the hiring process for an employee you know how true this is. You will make 90% of your hiring decision within the first 7 seconds, sometimes before the handshake is even over. Is this the right way to make a hiring decision? Probably not, but as humans we pass judgment quickly and we tend to trust our instincts more than facts. It's nature.

Many times employers and managers will fall into the trap of believing that it's the employee's responsibility to make a first impression. Although that's true, a new employee is passing judgment on you just as much. An employee's first day is one of the most critical steps in the employee life cycle. Every minute, your new employee is passing judgment on you and your company. Remember, they're not invested yet like you are.

It's likely a new employee makes a long-term retention decision during their first day and week. While they are still formulating this decision, you need to leverage this very important and limited time period. There are three easy things you can do to make sure you're giving a successful first impression.

Be ready for themIt seems intuitive, but employers get it wrong all the time. Have their work space ready, clean and organized. This is where they are going to spend the majority of their life, their home-away-from home. You will make a good first impression by showing your new employee you care enough and they weren't an afterthought to your busy day.

SWAGEveryone loves SWAG and nothing says welcome to the team better than being given a team uniform. Have you ever seen a newly drafted NFL player without a team hat or Jersey at the podium? You don't want to have them milling around the office wondering where they can get one of those coffee mugs that everyone else has.

Indulge themCelebrating new hires is often a missed opportunity. You see big going away happy hours for departing employees, but rarely a celebration to welcome new employees. First, individually indulge them with a treat at their desk. If you did your job in getting to know them a little before their first day, ask about what kind of treats they like. Another option is to plan a welcome get-together with the rest of the office with some treats. Things like cakes, cupcakes and cookies will always motivate the rest of the team away from their desk.

It's pretty simple really. Prepare for them, outfit them and indulge them. These three simple things will allow you to maximize the perception you give to a new employee on their first day.

If you're looking for some unique and indulgent ways to celebrate employees, Gigi's Cupcakes can help. Visit us at www.gigiscupcakesevents.com to start planning your next employee event.

​Last week the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) published final rules for the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA), meant to protect the scenic, environmental, and economic values of the river.

We are disappointed that the DNR did not pay attention to the river’s economic value and we have strong concerns that these new rules will have a negative effect on development, redevelopment, and future investment in the East Metro. We should be promoting economic growth, not placing new restrictions on property development and redevelopment, especially expansion.

The MRCCA is comprised of 72 miles of river (29 of which are in Saint Paul) and 54,000 acres of surrounding land in 30 governmental subdivisions. The MRCCA is currently regulated by local governments through the MRCCA guidelines. In directing the DNR to create rules for the MRCCA, the state legislature was clear that the DNR needed to factor in the importance of development and redevelopment along the river.